Pig Salad Cottage Cheese Deviled Eggs
One Simple Recipe. Endless Delicious Possibilities.
Deviled eggs have been a favorite appetizer for generations, but who says they have to be made with mayonnaise? And who says you even have to use the egg yolks?
At Pig Salad, we believe great food begins with real ingredients, a little imagination, and the freedom to experiment.
Our Cottage Cheese Deviled Eggs replace traditional mayonnaise with creamy, blended cottage cheese. The result is a delicious, protein-rich appetizer that can be customized with seafood, meats, vegetables, cheeses, herbs, and spices.
And here's the important part: Egg yolks are completely optional!
Some combinations benefit from the richness of cooked egg yolks. Others, particularly delicate seafood creations featuring shrimp, crab, or lobster, may taste even better without them.
It's entirely a matter of personal taste.
The Original Pig Salad Cottage Cheese Deviled Eggs
Makes 12 filled egg halves
Ingredients
- 6 large hard-boiled eggs
- ½–¾ cup plain cottage cheese, adjusted for desired consistency
- Cooked egg yolks (optional, use some, all, or none)
- ½ teaspoon yellow or Dijon mustard (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Paprika, for garnish
Preparation
- Peel the hard-boiled eggs and slice them lengthwise.
- Carefully remove the yolks and set them aside. You can use them in the filling, save them for another recipe, or omit them entirely.
- Blend the cottage cheese until smooth and creamy.
- If using egg yolks, mash the desired amount thoroughly and combine with the cottage cheese.
- Add mustard if desired, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Adjust the cottage cheese quantity until the filling is thick, creamy, and suitable for spooning or piping.
- Spoon or pipe the mixture into the egg white halves.
- Sprinkle lightly with paprika.
- Refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve.
That's your foundation. Now comes the fun!
Create Your Own Cottage Cheese Deviled Eggs
The basic cottage cheese filling can be transformed into dozens of delicious combinations.
Remember, egg yolks are always optional. Use them when you want a richer, more traditional deviled egg flavor. Leave them out when you want the cottage cheese and other ingredients to take center stage.
Seafood Creations
For seafood varieties, we recommend starting without egg yolks. This allows the delicate flavors of the seafood to shine without competing with the richness of the yolks. You can always add yolks later if you prefer.
- Shrimp Cottage Cheese Deviled Eggs — Finely chopped cooked shrimp, lemon juice, dill, and a touch of Old Bay seasoning. No yolks recommended.
- Crab Cottage Cheese Deviled Eggs — Real lump crabmeat, lemon, parsley, and a sprinkle of paprika. No yolks recommended.
- Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs — Smoked salmon, fresh dill, lemon zest, and chives. No yolks recommended.
- Tuna Salad Deviled Eggs — Flaked tuna, diced celery, mustard, and black pepper. Yolks optional.
- Lobster Deviled Eggs — Tender lobster meat, fresh lemon, and finely chopped chives. No yolks recommended.
- Cajun Crawfish Deviled Eggs — Cooked crawfish tails, natural Cajun seasonings, and a little cayenne. No yolks recommended.
Meat Lovers' Creations
- Bacon & Cheddar Deviled Eggs — Crispy bacon pieces, real sharp cheddar, and black pepper.
- Pulled Pork Deviled Eggs — Tender shredded pork with a touch of naturally prepared barbecue sauce.
- Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs — Finely shredded cooked chicken, hot sauce, and a little blue cheese.
- Ham & Swiss Deviled Eggs — Finely diced ham, real Swiss cheese, and mustard.
- Steakhouse Deviled Eggs — Finely chopped cooked steak, horseradish, and cracked black pepper.
- Turkey & Herb Deviled Eggs — Roasted turkey, sage, parsley, and a touch of mustard.
Egg yolks are optional in every meat variety. Experiment with or without them.
Cheese Lovers' Creations
- Sharp Cheddar Deviled Eggs — Cottage cheese blended with real aged sharp cheddar.
- Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs — Crumbled blue cheese, cracked pepper, and fresh chives.
- Parmesan & Garlic Deviled Eggs — Freshly grated Parmesan, roasted garlic, and parsley.
- Feta & Dill Deviled Eggs — Crumbled feta, fresh dill, and lemon zest.
- Smoked Gouda Deviled Eggs — Real smoked Gouda blended into the creamy filling.
Try these with or without egg yolks to discover your preferred balance of cheese flavors.
Garden & Vegetable Creations
- Spinach & Artichoke Deviled Eggs — Finely chopped cooked spinach, artichoke hearts, and garlic.
- Avocado Cottage Cheese Deviled Eggs — Mashed ripe avocado, lime juice, and cilantro.
- Roasted Red Pepper Deviled Eggs — Roasted red bell pepper, garlic, and smoked paprika.
- Cucumber & Dill Deviled Eggs — Finely diced cucumber, fresh dill, and lemon.
- Broccoli & Cheddar Deviled Eggs — Finely chopped steamed broccoli and real sharp cheddar.
- Caramelized Onion Deviled Eggs — Slowly caramelized onions, black pepper, and thyme.
- Mushroom & Garlic Deviled Eggs — Finely chopped sautéed mushrooms and roasted garlic.
For lighter, fresher vegetable combinations, consider omitting the yolks. For richer combinations, try adding them.
Bold & Spicy Creations
- Jalapeño Popper Deviled Eggs — Fresh jalapeño, sharp cheddar, and crispy bacon.
- Horseradish Deviled Eggs — Freshly prepared horseradish, mustard, and cracked pepper.
- Cajun Deviled Eggs — Paprika, cayenne, garlic, onion, and herbs.
- Buffalo Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs — Hot sauce, crumbled blue cheese, and celery.
- Chipotle Deviled Eggs — Smoked jalapeño, cumin, lime, and cilantro.
- Everything Seasoning Deviled Eggs — Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt.
Yolks are entirely optional. Let your preferred flavors determine the recipe.
With Yolks or Without? It's Your Choice!
Traditional deviled eggs use cooked egg yolks as the foundation of their filling.
Pig Salad takes a different approach.
Cottage cheese becomes the foundation, while egg yolks become an optional ingredient.
There are several ways to prepare your filling:
- No Yolks: Blend cottage cheese with your chosen ingredients for a creamy filling that allows delicate flavors, especially seafood, to stand out.
- Some Yolks: Add one or two cooked yolks for a little extra richness without overwhelming the other ingredients.
- All Yolks: Incorporate all six cooked yolks for a richer, more traditional deviled egg experience.
There is no single correct choice.
The purpose is to create something you enjoy eating.
Your Kitchen. Your Creation.
These 30 variations are only the beginning.
Think about your favorite sandwich, seafood dish, cheese combination, salad, or dinner entrée. Could those flavors become a delicious cottage cheese deviled egg?
Absolutely!
Try combining shrimp with sharp cheddar. Add crabmeat and fresh herbs. Experiment with roasted vegetables, smoked cheeses, fresh garlic, or your favorite natural seasonings.
For seafood recipes, begin with blended cottage cheese and your chosen seafood ingredients, leaving the egg yolks out. Taste the filling before deciding whether to add any yolks.
For meat, cheese, vegetable, and spicy variations, experiment with different amounts of yolk until you discover the flavor and texture you prefer.
Finely chop or shred additional ingredients, fold them into the cottage cheese mixture, and adjust the seasonings. Drain excess moisture from ingredients when necessary to keep the filling thick enough to hold its shape.
Use fully cooked seafood and meats. Keep prepared eggs refrigerated at 40°F or below, and do not leave them at room temperature for more than two hours, or one hour when temperatures exceed 90°F.
If you leave out the yolks, save them for another dish rather than throwing them away. They can be incorporated into salads, spreads, soups, or other recipes.
The Pig Salad Philosophy
At Pig Salad, we believe food should be creative, flavorful, satisfying, and made with real ingredients.
Our recipes emphasize natural foods without artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives, or unnecessary additives. Choose plain cottage cheese, cheeses, sauces, and seasonings made with ingredients that reflect that philosophy.
We also believe that a recipe should be a starting point rather than a limitation.
You don't have to use mayonnaise.
You don't have to use egg yolks.
You don't have to make the same deviled eggs everyone else makes.
Make the original. Change the ingredients. Leave out the yolks. Add your favorite flavors. Invent something entirely new.
And when you discover your favorite combination, make it your own.
One Simple Recipe. Endless Possibilities.
Real Food. Real Flavor. Pig Salad.
